Throughout the month of November, our Photo of the Day series will be taken over by each of Rangefinder‘s newly minted 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography in 2019. The 30 honorees are featured in our November issue, and each of their full, 30-photo submissions, reviewed by the competition judges, can be found in our online gallery. For more behind-the-scenes insights, follow us on Instagram.

Will Khoury loves imperfections and finds comfort in capturing them. The Modesto, California-based wedding photographer is not looking for the technically perfect shot; he’s after emotionally filled images for clients to treasure.

“I like to capture moments up close and personal,” he says, “which gives an intimate feel rather than being distant shooting with a zoom lens.” Khoury sees himself as a storyteller, to see the bigger picture and find a purpose in what he can capture. “I don’t have a specific approach because each couple is different and I want the photos to reflect them for who they are so that they are meaningful to each of them.”

Below are his behind-the-scenes insights on three of the photos from his submission this year.

There is no doubt that happy tears are some of the most tender moments captured on wedding days. Sometimes, the first look is the only time couples get for themselves to enjoy being alone, seeing each other and let their emotions be.

Jen and Wes knew how important this part of their day was, and they knew how to take it all in and let it all out. Wes couldn’t hold himself back from letting the tears flow after seeing Jen for the first time. This moment left him speechless and all he could say was “wow” over and over again.

I believe the tear that’s caught in Wes’s glasses and Jen’s arm reaching in adds to the intimacy of this moment. When it comes to any first look, you never know what’s going to happen or how someone is going to react; all you know is that you have to be ready and wait for these moments to unfold to capture them in their purest forms.

I love it when things line up so well in one shot. During reception detail photos, I came across this perspective with the city reflecting over the head table. It was a fun detail shot but something was missing. Incorporating the couple in this shot made so much more sense to me than an empty detail shot, and it really ties it all together, including the city view and the colors in the sky.

This is a single exposure photo through a large window reflecting the background. I love this blend because it was the first time using myself as a dark area to hide the reflection and show the couple through the window. This photo could have been taken from the inside without dealing with any of that, but it’s not always about a safe shot. I usually hate my reflection in photos because, as photographers, we’re “not supposed to be there,” but sometimes you have to say screw the rules and just make that shot happen.

The best photos are the ones that just happen. This is one of my favorite shots that I’ve ever taken, partly because there was zero direction given to the couple. Hannah and Tom walked up to this mirror for some last getting-ready touches before going to the ceremony. There it was. It’s a simple moment but with two awesome people, the right placement, moody lighting and some sideways-shooting ninja moves to avoid my reflection in the mirror, this shot was possible.

It’s important to keep things about the moment, not the photo, but be ready for the moment. Always communicate with your couple and explain what you’re about to do in the simplest forms. Work around your couple and capture them as things happen. Setting up shots like this is fun, but sometimes it becomes peculiar and more about the technical aspects, rather than the moment itself.